Hollywood is synonymous with glitz and glamour, revolving around beautiful people with iconic lives. However, there's also a darkness lying beneath the bright lights of Hollywood and it's filled with meaningless sex, addiction, breakdowns, vicious rumors, loss of privacy, overexposure, and depression. Not many people have publicly delved into that world but with every new generation comes a person who enjoys digging the dirt out from under the mask, reconciling the beauty with the trauma. Photographer Tyler Shields is such a person.
Tyler Shields with The OC actress Mischa Barton.
Photo Credit: Tyler Shields
"...the first photo I ever took I sold. I really believe some people are just meant to do things."
Mischa Barton and Mr. Panda.
"I've always loved destroying things. I suppose I am the opposite of a horder..."
Francesca Eastwood helps destroy a Birkin bag.
"I have to push myself and if a few people get mad along the way that's just occupational hazard."
A Birkin bag meets a chainsaw.
"People always tell me I break the rules but I didn't know there were rules to break."
A Louboutin shoe is set on fire.
"I am working on a new series with Francesca [Eastwood] and Emma [Roberts] that is one of my favorites things I have ever done."
Emma Roberts poses for the book cover for Shields' "Richest Man."
"Doesn't matter who I work with, it only matters the work I do."
Emma Roberts poses for the book cover for Shields' "Richest Man."
"I like freedom and I like people to be able to express themselves."
Nude model wears bear head.
"I have had some intense moments with them [paparazzi], I have seen them chase [Lindsay] Lohan and it's intense."
Francesca Eastwood among paparazzi in photo.
"No women in my photos are victims. They may be playing a role but the women have all the power always."
'Glee' star Heather Morris sports a black eye in controversial shoot.
"People have been telling me NO since I started doing this and maybe that will stop one day, maybe it won't."
Lindsay Lohan as Linda Lovelace in photo shoot for "Inferno."
"It's important for me to explore the things that I see and create inspiration from the world around me."
An unusual Mickey Mouse.
"It's fun to watch people make their own back story, that's my favorite part about the blood stuff."
Colton Haynes and Alessandra Torresani in "Love is Forever" photo series.
"A guy once threw up when I showed him what I wanted him to do but it turns out he had vertigo and was scared to death of heights."
Ali Cobrin and Garret Dillahunt in Salton Sea photo shoot.
